Maximus' life

The popular life of Magnus Maximus (known as Macsen Wledig in Welsh, Prince Macsen, or 'Imperator') says he was the son of a Romano-Briton named Lolelinus (Welsh 'Llywelyn'), who had travelled to Rome to take up a seat as an imperial senator.

The legendary Coel Godhebog 'the Magnificent', was 'Lord of Colchester', and his daughter St Helen supposedly married Emperor Constantius Chlorus. So Coel Godhebog became the uncle of Maximus, and Emperor Constantius Chlorus became the husband of his cousin, Helena.

However, the chronology for this doesn't fit together. Writing up to circa 1136, Geoffrey of Monmouth stated in The History of the Kings of Britain that Maximus was of imperial descent, and other sources show Constantius to have been his ancestor.

Closer study reveals that Maximus was a son of one Maximianus, a younger son of Constantine 'the Great'. The granddaughter of Comes Theodosius married Maximus' cousin, Constantius III. Maximus therefore descended from Emperor Constantius Chlorus in the following fashion (although there is also some doubt as to which children were borne by which wife, but this version is a likely one):

242 - 306 Emperor Constantius I Chlorus
274 - 337 Emperor Constantine I the Great
fl c322 Maximianus Constans
born c340 - 388 Magnus Clemens Maximus
First marriage of Magnus Maximus to Ceindrech ferch Reiden.
born c354 - 388 Victor ap Macsen
born c358 Eugenius / Owain Finddu 'Black Lips'
Second marriage of Magnus Maximus to St Elen Lwyddog (St Helena 'of the Host').
born c355 Antoninus Donatus / Anwn Dynod ap Macsen
born c361 Constantine / Custennin Fawr 'the Great'
born c.364 St Peblig ap Macsen
born c367 Gratianna ferch Macsen
born c370 Severa ferch Macsen

The proclamation by the Roman army in Britain of Magnus Maximus as emperor was not without precedent. Around AD 286, Britain had been at the heart of an imperial crisis.

An admiral named Marcus Aurelius Carausius, equipped with a fleet to drive off Saxon pirates, had set himself up as ruler of Britain and declared his independence after having been accused of being a traitor. The Emperor Constantius at last recaptured Britain, and remained in the country for some time, rebuilding the economy and constructing a chain of forts on the east coast which later became known as the Saxon Shore.

When he died at York in 306 his son, the greater Constantine, was proclaimed emperor by the army of Britain. He overthrew all his rivals, made Christianity the state religion, and gave the empire a peace which was marked in London by coins which were imprinted Beata Tranquillitas.

Maximus' revolt was seen in pretty much the same light, albeit with it being more of a revolt against degraded authority and government corruption, and it seems to have been well-supported from within the island.

Although Magnus Maximus was a Roman general and of high rank, he appears to have left (or charged) much of the organisation and protection of the north to the traditional figure of Coel Hen (who must have had an historical basis given the depth of his involvement in the story). His territory came to be known in traditional sources as the 'Kingdom of Northern Britain', and was based at Eboracum (York).

Coel Hen

He was what later sources would refer to as 'High King of Britain' after Maximus but who was probably a dux in the Roman fashion, a leading military commander.

He left the domains which were under his command to his descendants to rule for the following century and-a-half. Maximus concentrated his own efforts very much on the south and west of Britannia, strengthening the coastal defences to prevent incursions by Irish raiders.

It seems he initially divided what would become Wales between two of his 'sons', although whether they were initially related at all is something which has been overwritten by tradition.

Antoninus Donatus was to govern South Wales, while Constantine protected North Wales. While the former's descendants continued his role on the south, it seems that Constantine may not have lasted very long in the north, as Maximus is also credited with inviting the Manau Guotodin chief (or sub-king), Cunedda Wledig, to settle his clan in north-western Wales.

Perhaps initially they operated under Constantine's authority. Eventually they founded the principality of Gwynedd, while at the same time the Irish Déisi, practically homeless after a major feud in Ireland, were settled in south-western Wales, where they inherited Antoninus' Demetia territory in the form of the successful kingdom of Dyfed.

Therefore, with Coel Hen in the north and all of Wales shored against attack, the western coast of Britain was as strong as its eastern coast with its line of Saxon Shore defences.

This became such a successful policy that raids on Britain dried up and the Irish Dalriata, instead of trying to grab British land, went north beyond Hadrian's Wall to carve out a successful kingdom on the western edge of Pictland, which eventually became Scotland.

Magnus Maximus left Britain in AD 383 to pursue his own claim of imperial title, taking with him all those troops who had been freed up by his reorganisations, and apparently leaving the island in a fairly good defensive position despite the loss of good, Roman-trained troops who never returned to Britain.

Because of his role in founding so many eventual British kingdoms, he is forever remembered in their royal pedigrees, and his legendary story forms part of The Mabinogion.

https://www.historyfiles.co.uk/FeaturesBritain/BritishMagnusMaximus...
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Maxentius (Latin: Marcus Aurelius Valerius Maxentius Augustus; c. 278 – 28 October 312) was Roman Emperor from 306 to 312. He was the son of former Emperor Maximian and the son-in-law of Emperor Galerius. The latter part of his reign was preoccupied with civil war, allying with Maximinus II against Licinius and Constantine. The latter defeated him at the Battle of the Milvian Bridge in 312, where Maxentius, with his army in flight, is supposed to have perished by drowning in the Tiber river.

Maxentius' exact date of birth is unknown; it was probably around 278. He was the son of the Emperor Maximian and his wife Eutropia.

As his father became emperor in 285, he was regarded as crown prince who would eventually follow his father on the throne. He seems not to have served, however, in any important military or administrative position during the reign of Diocletian and his father. The exact date of his marriage to Valeria Maximilla, daughter of Galerius, is unknown. He had two sons, Valerius Romulus (ca. 295 – 309) and an unknown one.

In 305, Diocletian and Maximian abdicated, and the former caesares Constantius and Galerius became Augusti. Although two sons of emperors were available, Constantine and Maxentius, they were passed over for the new tetrarchy, and Severus and Maximinus Daia were appointed Caesars. Lactantius' Epitome states that Galerius hated Maxentius and used his influence with Diocletian to see that Maxentius was ignored in the succession; perhaps Diocletian also thought Maxentius was not qualified for the military duties of the imperial office. Maxentius retired to an estate some miles from Rome.

When Constantius died in 306, his son Constantine was crowned emperor on July 25 and subsequently accepted by Galerius into the tetrarchy as Caesar. This set the precedent for Maxentius' accession later in the same year.

Maxentius (Latin: Marcus Aurelius Valerius Maxentius Augustus; ca. 278 – 28. oktober 312) var romersk keiser fra 306 og til 312. Han var sønn av tidligere keiser Maximianus og svigersønn av keiser Galerius. Han er kjent som Konstantin den stores motstander og druknet i Tiberen under retretten fra slaget ved Pons Mulvius hvor han hadde kjempet mot hæren til Konstantin. Han var sønn av keiser Maximian Herculius og vokste opp i vest, ble svigersønn av keiser Galerius, men ble holdt utenfor tronfølgen i 305 på grunn av strid med enten sin far eller svigerfaren. Da Konstantius Klorus døde i 306 lot Maxentius seg utrope til keiser i vest og i konkurranse med Konstantin. Han fikk, kanskje ved press, Maximian til å støtte sine krav. Sammen med denne beseiret han og henrettet den utpekte nye keiseren Valerius Severus og avviste deretter med suksess Galerius’ forsøk på invasjon. I disse årene styrte Maxentius sørvestlige Europa med sentrum i Roma, og overlot det som i dag er England og Frankrike til Konstantin. Hans strid med sin far førte imidlertid til nye kriger og sistnevnte søkte da Konstantins hjelp, men ble tatt til fange og døde. I 312 kom det til et endelig oppgjør, Maxentius allierte seg med Maximinus Daza, Konstantin invaderte Italia og da Maxentius forsøkte å avvise angrepet ble han beseiret i slaget ved Pons Mulvius (den milviske bro) i oktober og druknet under flukten. Det var i dette slaget hvor Konstantin skal ha hatt en visjon om et kors på himmelen sammen med bokstavene ΧΡ (de greske bokstavene chi og rho, de første bokstavene i Christos, Kristus) sammen med frasen «I dette tegn skal du seire» (gresk: Εν Τουτω Νικα, latin: IN HOC SIGNO VINCES). Konstantin, som ennå ikke var kristen, skal ha latt sine soldater bære symbolet på sine skjold. Slaget var således et vendepunkt på flere måter. Maxentius har, som Konstantins fiende, generelt fått et dårlig ettermæle; han skildres som arrogant og maktlysten. Det blir for så vidt ikke motsagt av begivenhetene, men det er neppe riktig å oppfatte ham som en religiøs motpol til Konstantin da han selv synes å ha vist stor toleranse overfor kristendommen. Det kjente Romulus’ Tempel på Forum Romanum er oppkalt etter hans sønn som døde ganske ung.

MAXENTIUS Emperor of the West Born : Abt 0279 Died : 28 Oct 312 Killed in battle of Milvian Bridge Father MAXIMIAN Marcus Aurelius Valerius Emperor of the West Mother Eutropia Empress of the West Ref. : 3285 Marriage Abt. 305 - Valeria Maximilla Princess of the East Children -

Forrás / Source:

http://www.american-pictures.com/genealogy/persons/per02541.htm#0

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Maxentius

Please see Darrell Wolcott: The Royal Family of Gwynedd - Elidyr Mwynfawr Contests Rhun ap Maelgwn for Gwynedd; http://www.ancientwalesstudies.org/id231.html. (Steven Ferry, December 22, 2019.)

Please see Darrell Wolcott: Maxen Wledig and the Welsh Legends; http://www.ancientwalesstudies.org/id18.html. (Steven Ferry, February 4, 2020.)

Please see Darrell Wolcott: Maxen Wledig and the Welsh Genealogies; http://www.ancientwalesstudies.org/id19.html. (Steven Ferry, February 6, 2020.)

Please see Darrell Wolcott: Anwn Dynod ap Maxen Wledig; http://www.ancientwalesstudies.org/id21.html. (Steven Ferry, February 13, 2020.)

Please see Darrell Wolcott; Constans I and his A.D. 343 Visit to Britain; http://www.ancientwalesstudies.org/id131.html. (Steven Ferry, February 16, 2020.)

Please see Darrell Wolcott: Lluan ferch Brychan; http://www.ancientwalesstudies.org/id39.html. (Steven Ferry, March 22, 2020.)

Please see Darrell Wolcott: Harleian Ms 3859; http://www.ancientwalesstudies.org/id129.html. (Steven Ferry, March 8, 2021.)

Please see Darrell Wolcott: Foundations of 'The Men of the North' - Part 1; http://www.ancientwalesstudies.org/id278.html. (Steven Ferry, July 2, 2021.)

https://www.familysearch.org/tree/person/details/LZBC-XFQ